. >> reporter: kevin says they can handle one to two inches per hour. but at times, this storm was putting out more than five inches per hour. boston airport reported a 76-mile-per-hour wind gust. to prepare for this mess, boston public schools were canceled. had a good ride on that last one. >> that was pretty good. >> reporter: the supplies were gathered. >> need to be prepared. you never know what happens. >> reporter: and the city and state, they did it right. >> stay off the roads. stay home. >> reporter: a rare edict. the streets cleared at 4:00 p.m. friday. and that was not a choice. it's not often you get to stand in the city of boston on a friday night and have absolutely no one on the roads. they actually can't be on the roads. if you're caught here, it's a $500 fine or up to a year in jail. they don't do that often, right? >> no. it's kind of surprising to get everybody off the roads. >> reporter: it makes your job easier. >> a lot easier. >> reporter: a little easier for just one of the thousands that will be working to keep the millions of